Choir & Organ is the leading independent magazine for all professionals and amateurs in the choral and organ worlds – whether you are an organist, choral director or singer, organ builder, keen listener, or work in publishing or the record industry, Choir & Organ is a must-read wherever you live and work.

Every two months our expert contributors bring you beautifully illustrated features on newly built and restored organs, insights into the lives and views of leading organists, choral directors and composers, profiles of pioneering and well-established choirs, and topical coverage of new research, festivals and exhibitions. In keeping with our commitment to music at the cutting edge, we commission a new work from a young composer in every issue, making the score freely available for download and performance.

Our international news and previews, with breaking stories, key awards and forthcoming premieres, combine with reviews of the latest CDs, DVDs and sheet music, and listings of recitals, festivals and courses, to keep you up to date with events and developments around the world.

Summer Schools and Short Courses 2015:

All courses are in the UK unless otherwise stated.
Phone numbers are given as dialled from the UK; from outside the UK, dial +44 and omit the 0 at the beginning of the number.

Abbreviations:
ABCD Association of British Choral Directors
RCO Royal College of Organists
RSCM Royal School of Church Music

Organ Courses

A

ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE L’ORGUE DE SAESSOLSHEIM: ORGAN ACADEMY

23–30 Jul, Saessolsheim and surrounding area, Alsace, France

Led by Francis Jacob (Strasbourg), Willem Jansen (Toulouse), Benjamin Righetti, (Bern), and Claude Roser (Saverne). Organ by Bernard Aubertin (1995), and various other organs in the surrounding area. Repertoire from baroque music to improvisation; clavichord. Fee incls free entry to seven recitals during the Academy. Open to organists of every age and level. Residents: €190.

B

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C

CAMBRIDGE ACADEMY OF ORGAN STUDIES: SOUVIGNY & MOULINS ORGAN ACADEMY

23–28 Aug, Souvigny and Moulins, France

Led by Jean-Luc Perrot, Pierre Dubois (Souvigny), Alexis Droy (Moulins). Classes on the 1783 Clicquot organ at Souvigny, and a second course on the historic 1880 Merklin organ in the cathedral of nearby Moulins within the same week: a broad range of French music (Marchand, Corrette, Franck, Duruflé, Vierne) on historic instruments of the period, with expert tuition. Incls concerts and talks on the organs. Active participants and observers welcome, on one or both courses. Fees: One course (Souvigny or Moulins): €250 active participants, €80 observers; Both courses: €450 active participants, €160 observers; Active on one course and observer at the other: €250 plus €80.

N

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O

ORGELFESTIVAL HOLLAND ORGAN ACADEMY

30 Jun–5 Jul, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

Theme: ‘Text, Sound and Registration in the North German Chorale Repertoire’. Runs alongside the Festival and International Organ Competition. For organ students, professional organists and advanced amateurs; application can be made as an active or non-active participant. Workshops, masterclasses, concerts and excursions. Led by Pieter van Dijk and Frank van Wijk. Participants work with international specialists on a repertoire specifically attuned to the characteristics of the teaching organs. Instruments incl the world-famous Van Hagerbeer/Schnitger (1646/1725) and Van Covelens (1511) in the Grote Sint Laurenskerk, and Müller organs in the Kapelkerk (1762) and the Lutheran Church (1755). Spoken language at the academy will be English. Fee (incls entry to all concerts): €295; closing date 1 May 2015. Apply online.

A

ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH CHORAL DIRECTORS (ABCD)

For anyone with an interest in learning to conduct singing of any kind, or who has recently started to lead a choir. No previous conducting experience necessary; also suitable for those wishing to develop their conducting and vocal technique, or have some experience in leading choral music. Fee: £235 abcd members, £265 non-members.

The course is accredited by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is accepted as a substitute for the DipABRSM (Music Direction). Opening and closing weekends, with four daylong sessions between, spread over half a year. For those who conduct a choir regularly and wish to develop their technique. Incls written work on programming and arranging for a choir. Fee: £585 abcd members, £620 non-members.

Opening weekend followed by five day-long sessions spread over 6 months. The group size is small (10 participants) and there is a resident choir throughout the course to allow focus and ample practical time. For those who conduct a choir regularly, to a high standard, and have successfully taken the Intermediate Course, DipABRSM or have the equivalent training and/or experience. This course can lead to the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music examination for those who wish to take it. Fee: £780 abcd members, £820 non-members.

30th Annual Convention28–30 Aug, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

For anyone leading choral music; presenters and choirs from the UK and abroad, incl. Russia, Germany and the USA.

Pre-Convention Conducting Course27–28 Aug, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

Rehearsal and conducting techniques for leaders of all kinds of choir. No minimum experience required.

Young Conductors’ Course 28–30 Aug, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

Practical, hands-on course for those aged 18-25, running parallel with the Annual Convention.

Led by Theresa Caudle and William Carslake. Purcell’s music for voices and instruments, incl. Ode to St Cecilia and The Symphony Songs. For competent sightreaders able to hold their own part with confidence in an ensemble of 8 to 20; some solo and one-to-a-part singing. Also, opportunities to join a small baroque string orchestra (violins, cellos or bass violins and violas da gamba, three harpsichords, and one or two theorbos), playing at A = 415. Resident: £380; non-resident: £290 (Under 27s: resident: £285; non-resident: £217.50). Code: 15/340

Consort Singing Day 20 Sep

Led by choral director Andrew Parnell. Working a cappella with Invitation to Madrigals Book 2 (SATB), this course challenges good choral singers to raise their skills to a chamber music level, where every member of the group depends on every other member equally to produce a refined professional performance. Standard: Advanced. Fee: £75 Code: 15/113

C

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION: THE ENGLISH MADRIGAL – A PARTICIPATORY WEEKEND

6–8 Mar, Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge

Participatory weekend residential course focusing on English madrigals dating from one of the richest periods of English musical composition. Graham Ross, director of music at Clare College, Cambridge, leads repertoire that represents the madrigal in settings by numerous English composers. Notify your voice part in advance. Full fee: £250

ETON PLACE MUSIC SINGING/CHORAL COURSE

27 Sep–3 Oct, Tereglio, Tuscany, Italy

Led by Andrew Staples (tenor and director), Rebecca Outram (soprano), Alexandra Gibson (mezzo) and George Humphreys (bass). Fee: £1,650 (incl. all flights with British Airways, taxes and transfers, accommodation, all meals and course tuition).

N

NORFOLK FESTIVAL CHAMBER CHOIR AND CHORAL CONDUCTING WORKSHOP

16–23 Aug, Ellen Battell Stoeckel Estate, Norfolk CT, USA

Led by Simon Carrington. For advanced singers and choral conductors. Singers receive a Fellowship covering full cost of tuition, housing and meals; conductors receive a Fellowship covering the cost of housing and meals only.

S

SARTEANO CHAMBER CHORAL CONDUCTING WORKSHOP

Sarteano, Tuscany, Italy

Sacred Music19–26 Jul

Mixed Repertoire29 Jul–5 Aug

Collaborative workshops led by Simon Carrington, Bronislawa Falinska and Brian O’Connell. For choral conductors and music educators who are interested in rehearsing and performing chamber choral music. Podium time and feedback.